Method and  Device to Attach Building Siding Boards

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to building materials, in particular to attachment of siding boards, such as composite boards, or fiber cement boards on building siding. A clip to securely attach the boards is disclosed. The clip may be used with our without a shaped foam insulation board. A method to use the clip is also disclosed. Various embodiments of the clip are provided.

PRIORITY

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/164,697, filed on Jan. 27, 2014, for “Method and Device toAttach Building Siding Boards”, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/757,175 and 61/790,385 filed onJan. 27, 2013 and on Mar. 15, 2013, respectively. The contents of bothof these applications are hereby fully incorporated, in their entirety,by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to building materials, in particular to attachmentof building siding boards on building surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to building materials in particular toattachment of building siding boards on building surfaces. The inventionmay be used with any kind of building siding materials, such as wood,composite, PVC, fiber cement or plastic. Especially the invention issuitable for attaching fiber cement or composite boards, but theinvention may be used with other siding materials also. The inventionmay also be used with siding boards where a shaped foam insulation boardis used under the siding and even with siding boards where theinsulation foam is prefixed behind the boards.

The selection of building siding materials today is vast. The siding maybe wood, vinyl, plastic, composite, fiber cement or other materials. Itis customary to attach siding boards on the building surface by nailingor stapling. Fiber cement laps are usually nailed with galvanized nails.Nailing creates problems when the insulation foam under the board isthick because then the nailing may not provide enough support. Understrong winds the wind may get under the boarding and tear the boardsoff. As several boards are usually attached to one large insulationboard, wind tear may destroy a large part of the building siding whenthe insulation board becomes even partially damaged.

There are various publications disclosing clips and mounting devicesmainly for vinyl and wood siding panels.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,933 discloses a clip attached to the upper side ofvinyl siding on the building structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,555 discloses another clip to attach upper side of avinyl siding.

US Patent Application Number 2007/0056238 discloses a siding attachmentstrip containing a hook portion attached to an elongated strip element.

US Patent Application Number 2009/0007517 discloses a clip to attach theuppermost siding board.

US Patent Application Number 2010/0132295 discloses a clip for attachingvinyl sidings.

US Patent Application 2010/0251655 discloses a U-shaped clip for woodsidings.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,786 discloses U-shaped clip containing cushioningmaterial adapted for mounting the upper edge of a siding member.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,308,129 discloses a Z-shaped clip for attachingshingles.

US Patent Application 2006/0272258 discloses a break-away plastic clipto align lap siding during installation.

The flaw with the currently available attachment methods is that duringhigh winds, storms and hurricanes the siding laps may become detachedand great damage to the building structure may result. Furthermore,there are currently no methods or means available to apply for moresecure attachment of siding boards; and specifically so when a shapedinsulation board is used beneath the siding boards. The shapedinsulation board is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/029,336and Ser. No. 13/450,165, both of which are incorporated in theirentirety herein by reference.

The instant invention provides a solution to this and other problemsarising from the currently used practices. The instant invention may beused with or without an insulation board and with any kind of sidingboards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and means toimprove wind and storm resistance of building siding.

It is another object of this invention to provide an economic way toattach siding boards durably on a building surface.

It is yet an object of this invention to provide a clip to attach fibercement or composite siding boards on building surface.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a clip to attachsiding boards on building surface where an insulation board is beneaththe siding boards.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a clip to attachsiding boards on building surface where a shaped insulation board isbeneath the siding boards.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clip to attachsiding boards on building surface where insulation foam is prefixed onthe back side of the siding board.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a clip to attachsiding boards on a building surface where an insulation board is beneaththe siding and where the clip is also serving as a flashing elementprotecting the seam between two abutting siding boards, or protectingthe seam between two abutting insulation foam boards from waterpenetration.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clip to attachsiding boards on building surface and simultaneously to provide means toalign the siding board horizontally.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clip for attaching asiding board on a building surface, said clip comprising: a hind prongbeing substantially rectangular in shape and having a lower end, anupper end, and at last one attachment hole; a front prong beingsubstantially rectangular in shape and having a lower end, an upper end,and at least one attachment hole; a horizontal portion having a frontend and a back end, said front end being connected to the upper end ofthe front prong in a substantially rectangular angle, and said back endbeing connected to the upper end of the hind prong in a substantiallyrectangular angle; said horizontal portion having a width substantiallyequal to thickness of a siding board; said front prong, hind prong andhorizontal portion forming a U-shaped fork where an upper end of thesiding board snugly fits; and a vertical portion being substantiallyrectangular and having a lower end, an upper end, and at least oneattachment hole, said vertical portion continuing seamlessly upward fromthe upper end of the hind prong.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clip for attaching afiber cement board on a building surface, said clip comprising: a hindprong being substantially rectangular in shape and having a lower end,an upper end, and at last one attachment hole; a front prong beingsubstantially rectangular in shape and having a lower end, an upper end,and at least one attachment hole; a horizontal portion having a frontend and a back end, said front end being connected to the upper end ofthe front prong in a substantially rectangular angle, and said back endbeing connected to the upper end of the hind prong in a substantiallyrectangular angle; said horizontal portion having a width substantiallyequal to thickness of a siding board; said front prong, hind prong andhorizontal portion forming a U-shaped fork where an upper end of thesiding board snugly fits; and wherein a snap-away lip is attached to thelower end of the front prong or to the lower end of the hind prong.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a clip forattaching a siding board on a building surface, said clip comprising: ahind prong being substantially rectangular in shape and having a lowerend, an upper end, and at last one attachment hole; a front prong beingsubstantially rectangular in shape and having a lower end, an upper end,and at least one attachment hole; a horizontal portion having a frontend and a back end, said front end being connected to the upper end ofthe front prong in a substantially rectangular angle, and said back endbeing connected to the upper end of the hind prong in a substantiallyrectangular angle; said horizontal portion having a width substantiallyequal to the thickness of a siding board; said front prong, hind prongand horizontal portion forming a U-shaped fork where an upper end of thesiding board snugly fits; a vertical portion being substantiallyrectangular and having a lower end, an upper end, and at least oneattachment hole; said vertical portion continuing seamlessly upward fromthe upper end of the hind prong; and said front prong further having acut out hook carved out of the front prong thereby leaving an opening inthe front prong and said cut out hook being capable of being punchedthrough the opening and penetrating through the siding board to the wallthereby attaching the board on the wall.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method ofattaching siding boards to a building surface, said method comprisingthe steps of: a) aligning at least two shaped insulating boards to arequired orientation, said shaped insulating boards having arectangular, substantially flat back surface and a substantiallysaw-tooth shaped cross-section thereby creating a plurality ofsubstantially flat faced, protruding ridges on a front surface of saidshaped insulating boards, adjacent ridges having a short face of oneridge joined in an angle to a long face of another ridge; and where, insaid required orientation, said protruding ridges align in a desiredorientation of said length of the siding board; and where the at leasttwo shaped insulating boards are adjacent to each other vertically orhorizontally and leaving a gap between said shaped insulating boards; b)providing multitude of siding boards and a multitude of clips of claim1, said siding boards having a front face, a back face, an upper end, alower end, two distal ends and having a thickness such that the upperend snugly fits into the fork of the clip; c) inserting the fork of theclip over an upper end of the siding board in such a away that the frontface of the board faces the hind prong of the clip; d) inserting thesiding board on the shaped insulation board by lining front prong towarda long face of a first ridge on the insulation board, the horizontalportion along the short face of the ridge and the vertical portion alonga long face of a second ridge adjacent and above the first ridge; e)attaching the siding board in place by nailing through the attachmentholes of the hind prong and the front prong, and securing the clip bynailing or screwing through the attachment holes of the verticalportion; f) repeating step c) with a second fiber cement board and asecond clip; g) inserting the second fiber cement board on the shapedinsulation board by lining the front prong toward a long face of thesecond ridge on the insulation, the horizontal portion along the shortface of the second ridge and the vertical portion along a long face ofan adjacent ridge above the second ridge; h) repeating step e); and i)repeating steps c to e until the building surface is sided with themultitude of the boards.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of attaching sidingboards to a building surface, said method comprising the steps of: a)providing multitude of siding boards and a multitude of clips of claim1, said siding boards having a front face, a back face, an upper end, alower end, two distal ends and having a thickness such that the upperend snugly fits into the fork of the clip; b) inserting the fork of theclip over an upper end of the siding board in such a away that the backface of the siding board faces the front prong of the clip; c) attachingthe siding board on the building surface by nailing or screwing throughthe attachment holes through the hind prong and the front prong, andsecuring the clip by nailing or screwing through the attachment holes onthe vertical portion; d) repeating step b) with a second siding boardand a second clip; e) attaching the second siding board vertically abovethe first siding board in such a way that the lower end of the secondboard covers fully the front prong of the clip and nailing or screwingthe second siding board on the building surface through the attachmentholes of hind prong and of the front prong, and securing the clip bynailing or screwing through the attachment holes of the verticalportion; and f) repeating steps c) to e) until the building surface issided with the multitude of the boards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a vertical cross section showing a stud, a shaped insulationfoam board with saw tooth like cross section, three vertically abuttingsiding boards, a clip having a fork and a vertical portion, wherein thefork holds the upper end of a siding board and the vertical portionelongates upward from the fork and forms flashing. The siding board isaligned along the ridges of the insulation foam board. A ridge has ashort face and a long face and the fork of a clip holding the upper endof the siding board is inserted toward the ridge and the verticalportion is aligned on long face on an adjacent ridge above. The board isnailed or screwed onto the studs through attachment hole in the fork.The vertical portion of the clip forms a flashing between the uppersiding board and the insulation board and the vertical portion isattached to the stud with nails or screws as well.

FIG. 1 B is a vertical cross section showing a stud, two verticallyabutting siding boards, and a clip where the fork of the clip holds theupper end of a siding board and a the vertical portion elongates upwardfrom the fork. The board is attached onto the studs through theattachment holes in the fork with nails or screws. The vertical portionis also attached with screws or nails. The vertical portion in thisembodiment does not necessarily form a flashing but a separate flashingmay be provided. FIG. 1 B also illustrates an embodiment where a snapaway lip is attached to the lower end of the front prong.

FIG. 2A-H illustrates vertical cross sections of various embodiments ofthe clip.

FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical cross section of a clip with a sidingboard attached in between of the fork of the clip.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of a siding board attached in betweenof the fork of the clip.

FIG. 4B illustrates a back view of a siding board attached in between ofthe fork of the clip.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a clip where the vertical portion ofthe clip forms a flashing for the seam between two abutting sidingboards attached above the siding board that is attached between thefork.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate clips where the back prong is substantiallyof same length as the width of the siding board.

FIG. 6C illustrates a U-shaped clip comparable to clip in FIG. 2B.However this clip is substantially the same length as a siding board andcan be used for one board or it can be used for covering the back ofhalf a length of one board and half a length of adjacent board as isshown in FIG. 6C.

FIGS. 7 A, B and C illustrate a clip with a cutout hook. In FIG. 7A thehook is in open position, and the siding board is in between the clipprongs. In FIG. 7B the hook has been pushed in, whereby the hook goesthrough the siding board and attaches the board on the wall structurebehind the clip. FIG. 7C shows a front perspective view of the clip withthe cutout hook in open position. The hook is cut out from the clipleaving an opening in the clip. Once the hook is pushed close it goesthrough the opening and penetrates through the siding board and attachesit on the wall structure. The form of the clip is shown as H-shapedclip, but other clip designs described in this applications may also beused with the cutout hook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings. Identical elements in thevarious figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1A is a vertical cross section showing a stud 10, shaped insulationfoam board 20 with saw tooth like cross section 15. The shapedinsulation board has ridges with short face 22 and long face 23. Twovertically abutting fiber cement boards 30, and a clip 40. The sidingboard 30 has an upper end 30 a, a lower end 30 b, a front side 30 c, aback side 30 d, and two distal ends (not shown in FIG. 1A). The clip 40has a horizontal portion 42, a hind prong 44, a front prong 46, and avertical element 48. The front prong 46 has an upper end 46 a, and alower end 46 b. The hind prong has an upper end 44 a and a lower end 44b. The horizontal portion 42 has a front end 42 a and a back end 42 b.The vertical portion 48 has an upper end 48 a and a lower end 48 b. Theupper end of the hind prong 44 a is attached to the back end of thehorizontal portion 42 b and the upper end of the front prong 46 a isattached to the front end of the horizontal portion 42 a to form anessentially U-shaped fork 50. The lower end of the vertical element 48 bis attached to the upper end of the hind prong 44 a thereby forming anelongated continuation of the hind prong. The siding boards 30 areinserted into the U-shaped forks 50. The clip 40 is so attached that thehind prong 44 and the vertical element 48 face the siding board 30 whilethe front prong 42 faces the insulation board 20. The foam board mayhave stud markings 21 showing location of the stud. The stud marking maybe a vertical groove having a width similar to the width of the clip orit may be dots or other indicia. The siding boards 30 are attached tothe stud 10 by nailing with nails, with screws or with equivalent 60through the hind prong 44 and the front prong 46 and through the foamboard 20. The clip 40 is also attached to the stud by nailing, screwingor otherwise through the vertical portion 48.

FIG. 1 B is a vertical cross section showing a stud 10, two verticallyabutting siding boards 30, and a clip 40. The siding board 30 has anupper end 30 a, a lower end 30 b, a front side 30 c, a back side 30 d,and two distal ends (not shown in FIG. 1B). The clip 40 has a horizontalportion 42, a hind prong 44, a front prong 46, and a vertical element48. The front prong 46 has an upper end 46 a, and a lower end 46 b. Thehind prong has an upper end 44 a and a lower end 44 b. The horizontalportion 42 has a front end 42 a and a back end 42 b. The verticalportion 48 has an upper end 48 a and a lower end 48 b. The upper end ofthe hind prong 44 a is attached to the back end of the horizontalportion 42 b and the upper end of the front prong 46 a is attached tothe front end of the horizontal portion 42 a to form an essentiallyU-shaped fork 50. The lower end of the vertical element 48 b is attachedto the upper end of the hind prong 44 a thereby forming an elongatedcontinuation of the hind prong. The siding board 30 is inserted into theU-shaped fork 50. The clips are so attached that the hind prong 44 andthe vertical element 48 face the stud 10 and the front prong faces thesiding board 30. The siding board is attached to the stud 10 by nailingwith nails, with screws or equivalent 60 through the hind prong 44 andthe front prong 46. The figure illustrates also a snap away lip 70 whichmay be a simple horizontal lip as shown in this figure or it may form aU-shaped cross section with the prong it is attached to.

FIG. 2A-H illustrates various embodiments of the clip attached to asiding board 30. In FIG. 2A a welded z-piece is shown. The clip has afront prong 46, a horizontal portion 42 and a hind prong 44 whichcontinues as vertical element 48. The vertical element 48 and thehorizontal portion 42 are secured together with a securing portion 43.

In FIG. 2B a U-shaped clip is shown. The clip has a front prong 46 and ahind prong 44 and a horizontal portion 42 in between them.

In FIG. 2C an extended U-shape clip is shown. The clip has a front prong46 and a hind prong 44 and a horizontal portion 42 in between them. Thefront prong 46 is substantially shorter than the hind prong 44.

In FIG. 2D a 90 degree's Z-shape clip is shown. The clip is made of onepiece having a front prong 46, a horizontal portion 42 and a verticalportion 48. The horizontal portion is attached to the prongs with a 90degrees angle.

FIG. 2E shows a clip formed of two parts and welded together. One partof the clip includes a front prong 46, a horizontal portion 42 and afront vertical portion 48 a. The second part includes a hind prong 44and a hind vertical portion 48 b. The front vertical portion and thehind vertical portions are equal of their lengths and are weldedtogether.

FIG. 2F show 45 degree's Z-shape clip. The clip is made of one piecehaving a front prong 46, a horizontal portion 42 and a vertical portion48. The horizontal portion is attached to the prongs with a 45 degreesangle.

FIG. 2G shows a double layer h-shape clip with inside hem. The clip isformed of one piece and it contains a front prong 46, a horizontalportion 42, a hind prong 44 which includes a hem 45 and a verticalportion 48.

FIG. 2H shows a double layer h-shape clip with outside hem. The clip isformed of one piece and it contains a front prong 46, a horizontalportion 42, a hind prong 44 and a vertical portion 48 which includes ahem 45.

It is to be noted that even if in FIGS. 2A-2H the clip is illustrated sothat is only encloses the siding board, it is possible to use the sameclip in such dimensions that the horizontal portion would be allow asiding board with fixed insulation either to fit into the fork of theclip (FIGS. 2A, B, C, E, G and H) or to the angle between the frontprong and the horizontal portion (FIGS. 2D and F) would allow the clipto be used with siding board with fixed insulation.

FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross section of a clip 40 according to onepreferred embodiment. The clip has a front prong 46, a horizontalportion 42 connecting the front prong 46 and the hind prong 44, and avertical prong 48 extending from the hind prong. A siding board 30 isinserted into the fork 50 formed by the two prongs and the horizontalportion.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of a siding board 30 attached inbetween the fork 50 of the clip 40. The clip has a front prong 46, ahind prong 44 and a horizontal portion 42. The figure shows attachmentholes 65 for nails or screws to attach the vertical portion 48 onto thebuilding. The figure also shows attachment holes 65 for nails or screwsin the front prong 46 and in the hind prong 44 to attach the sidingboard 30 on the building.

FIG. 4B illustrates a back view of a siding board 30 attached in thefork 50 of the clip 40. The clip has a front prong 46, a hind prong 44and a horizontal portion 42. The figure shows attachment holes 65 fornails or screws to attach the vertical portion 48 onto the building. Thefigure also shows attachment holes 65 for nails or screws in the frontprong 46 and in the hind prong 44 to attach the siding board 30 on thebuilding.

It is to be noted that even if in FIGS. 4A and 4B the attachment holeshave been shown and round holes, they may also be horizontally extendingnarrow slits, which would allow the clip to move horizontally.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a siding board 30 attached in betweenof the fork 50 of the clip 40. The horizontal portion 42 has a depththat is substantially same as the thickness of the siding board. Asecond siding board 30 is attached above the first one and the sidingboards are overlapping in a manner that the clip 40 remains invisible.This is possible because the lengths of the front prong 46 and the hindprong 44 are not greater than the area where the two fiber cement boardsoverlap. The vertical portion 48 forms a flashing over a gap 80 betweento abutting siding boards.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate clips 40 where the hind prong 44 issubstantially the same length as the width of the siding board 30.

FIG. 6C illustrates an U-shaped clip 40 comparable to clip in FIG. 2B.However this clip is substantially the same length as a siding board 30and thereby can be used for one board or it can be used for covering theback of half a length of one board and half a length of an adjacentboard as is shown in FIG. 6C.

FIGS. 7 A, B and C illustrate a clip 40 with a cutout hook 90. In FIG.7A the hook 90 is in open position, and the siding board 30 is inbetween the clip prongs. In FIG. 7B the hook has been pushed in, wherebythe hook goes through the siding board and attached the board on thewall structure behind the clip. FIG. 7C shows a front perspective viewof the clip with the cutout hook in an open position. The hook is cutout from the clip leaving an opening 100 in the clip. Once the hook ispushed closed it goes through the opening and penetrates through thesiding board 30 and attaches it on the wall structure. The form of theclip is shown as an H-shaped clip, but other clip designs described inthis application may also be used with the cutout hook.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, the invention is now described in details.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 A and B, a preferred embodiment of thisinvention provides a clip and a method to use the clip for attaching asiding board securely on a building surface either with or without ashaped insulation foam board in between the building surface and thesiding boards.

As is shown in FIG. 1A, the clip 40 has a horizontal portion 42, a hindprong 46, a front prong 44 and a vertical element 48. Figure illustratesthe use of the clip 40 to attach siding boards 30 on to building surfacewhere a shaped insulation board 20 is used in between of the buildingsurface and the siding boards. The insulation board has a saw tooth likecross section 15 and ridges on its front side formed of short face 22and adjacent long face 23, 24. The front prong 44, the horizontalportion 42 and the hind prong 46 of the clip form a U-shaped fork 50into which an upper end of a siding board 30 a is attached. The width ofthe fork is defined by the horizontal portion 42 and is such that anupper edge of the siding board snugly fits into the fork. The sidingboard in this case is inserted into the fork so that the front face ofthe board 30 c faces the hind prong 44 of the clip. The back face of theboard 30 d faces the front prong 46 of the clip. The width of thehorizontal portion 42 is substantially equivalent with short face of theridge of the shaped insulation board 22 and thereby the siding boardthat is attached in the fork will be aligned on the insulation board sothat the horizontal portion 42 of the clip is against a short face ofridge 22 of the insulation board and the front prong 46 is against along face of a first ridge 23 of the insulation board. The verticalportion 48 of the clip is aligned with a long face of second ridge 24above the first ridge. The siding board 30 that is within the fork 50 isattached to the building surface by nailing or screwing through theinsulation board to a stud 10. A nail or a screw 60 is inserted throughthe attachment holes in the hind prong 44, and the front prong 46. Theclip is further attached from the vertical portion 40 with at least onenail or screw 60 thorough the insulation board 20 to the stud 10;preferably the vertical portion is attached with one or two nails orscrews. According to one preferred embodiment the attachment of theboard through the clip is conducted with screws. Optionally in this casealso bolts may be used to strengthen the structure and to hold thesiding board tightly in between the prongs of the fork.

According to one preferred embodiment the vertical portion 48 issubstantially longer than the front prong 46. The vertical portion 48preferably functions as a flashing element and therefore the length ofthe vertical portion is preferably substantially similar to the width ofthe long face of a ridge 24 of the shaped insulation board. According toone preferred embodiment the vertical portion is shorter than the longface of a ridge 23 of the shaped insulation board. According to onepreferred embodiment the length of a vertical portion 48 and a frontprong 46 together is same as the width of the long face of a ridge 24 ofthe shaped insulation board, which would allow the vertical portion of aclip to be used for attaching one siding board and the front prong ofanother clip used for attaching a siding board above the previous one tocover the width of the long face 24 of a ridge of the shaped insulationboard. By this way, clips may be attached vertically on same line andthe vertical portion of one clip and the front prong of the second clipform a complete flashing to cover either the abutting seam between twosiding boards or to cover the gap between two vertically abuttinginsulation boards.

According to one preferred embodiment the shaped foam insulation boardhas stud markings indicating the location of the studs. The studmarkings may be formed of a vertical flat groove that is to be linedalong a stud. The vertical flat area may be about 4 inches wide but itmay be wider or narrower depending on the width of the clips used.According to this embodiment the clip 40 would be inserted into the flatgroove. In this case the clip may be inserted on the upper end of asiding board in such a way that the front side of the siding board facesthe front prong and the back side of the siding board faces the hindprong.

As is shown in FIG. 1B, the clip 40 has a horizontal portion 42, a hindprong 46, a front prong 44 and a vertical element 48. Figure illustratesthe use of the clip to attach siding boards 30 directly onto thebuilding surface without the shaped insulation board. The front prong44, the horizontal element 42 and the hind prong 46 of the clip form aU-shaped fork 50 into which a siding board 50 is attached. The width ofthe fork is defined by the horizontal portion 42 and is such that anupper edge of the siding board 30 b snugly fits into the fork. Thesiding board in this case is inserted into the fork so that the frontface of the siding board faces 30 c the front prong 46 of the clip. Theback face of the fiber cement board 30 d faces the hind prong 44 of theclip. The vertical portion 48 of the clip is aligned on the surface ofthe stud 10. The siding board 30 is attached to the building surface bynailing or screwing through the attachment holes 65 on the clip. A nailor screw 60 is attached through the front prong 46, the siding board 30and the hind prong 44 to the stud 10. According to one embodiment a boltmay be used to secure the screw attachment. The clip is further attachedfrom the vertical portion 48 with at least one nail, screw or equivalent60 to the stud 10. Again a bolt may also be used to secure the screwattachment. According to a preferred embodiment the vertical portion 48is about the same length as the front prong 46. In this embodiment thevertical portion 48 does not necessarily function as a flashing elementbut a separate flashing element may be attached behind the siding boardsto cover the seam between two horizontally abutting siding boards.

FIG. 1 B also shows an embodiment where the lower end of the front prong30 b is attached to a snap-away lip 70. Such snap-away lip may be madeof stainless steel or galvanized metal, of aluminum, of plastic or othermaterial and its purpose is to aid aligning the boards. Once the boardsare attached the snap-away lip may be removed. In FIG. 1B the snap-awaylip is a simple horizontal lip. However, the lip may extend furtherupward to form a U-shape lip where the lower end of the fiber cementboard 30 b fits in.

Referring now to FIG. 2A-H, another embodiments of the invention areshown. According to this invention, the clip may be a welded z-piece asis shown in FIG. 2A, a U-shaped clip as is shown in FIG. 2B, an extendedU-shape clip as is shown in FIG. 2C, a 90 degree's Z-shape clip as isshown in FIG. 2C. The clip may be formed of two parts that are weldedtogether as is show in FIG. 2D. The clip may be a 45 degree's Z-shapeclip as is shown in FIG. 2E. The clip may be a double layer h-shape clipwith inside hem in the hind prong as is shown in FIG. 2F or a doublelayer h-shape clip with outside hem in the vertical portion as is shownin FIG. 2G. Finally, the clip may be made of two parts, where first partcontains the front prong, the horizontal portion, and the verticalportion and the second part contains the hind prong and verticalportion. The vertical portions of the first part and the second part arewelded. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 A-C and 2G-H thecrucial feature is that a siding board can be inserted in a fork. In allof the embodiments the siding board is attached to the building surfaceby nailing or screwing through at least a front prong and the sidingboard or through or the front prong, a hind prong and the siding board.Where the clip has a vertical portion it is also attached to thebuilding surface by nailing or screwing through the vertical portion.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of the clip is shown. Theclip 40 has a front prong 46, a horizontal portion 42 connecting thefront prong 46 and the hind prong 44, and a vertical prong 48 extendingfrom the hind prong. A siding board 30 is inserted into the fork 50formed by the two prongs and the horizontal portion. Depending onwhether there is a shaped insulating foam board between the buildingsurface and the siding board the siding board is inserted into the forkeither front face toward the hind prong (when there is shaped foamboard) or front face toward the front prong (when there is no shapedfoam board). In case where shaped foam board with a vertical flat grooveas a stud marking is used, the siding board may be inserted into thefork with front face toward the front prong and the clip is to locatewithin the flat groove.

FIGS. 4 A and B shows the clip 40 can on a siding board. FIG. 4A showshow the length of the horizontal portion equals with the thickness ofthe siding board so that the board snugly fits into the fork. The figurealso shows how there are attachment holes 65 in the front prong 46, hindprong 44 to nail or screw the siding board on a stud and there areattachment holes 65 also in the vertical portion to nail or screw theclip more securely to the stud. FIG. 4 B shows a back view of the clip.

FIG. 5 shows how the vertical portion of the clip 48 forms a flashingcovering a seam between two abutting siding boards 80. In thisembodiment the vertical portion has a length that is substantially sameas the width of a long face of a ridge in the shaped insulation board.The clip remains invisible under the two vertically overlapping sidingboards because the length of the front prong and the hind prong are notlarger than the overlapping portion of the siding boards.

Referring now to FIG. 6A-B, according to one preferred embodiment thehind prong 44 of the clip is substantially of same length as the widthof the siding board.

Referring to FIG. 6C, according to one preferred embodiment the clip hasa U-shape and is substantially the same length as a siding board 30 andthereby can be used for one board or it can be used for covering theback of half a length of one board and half a length of an adjacentboard as is shown in FIG. 6C.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 A, B and C one preferred embodiment of thisinvention is a clip with a cutout hook. In FIG. 7A the hook is in anopen position, and the siding board is in between the clip prongs. InFIG. 7B the hook 90 has been pushed in, whereby the hook goes throughthe siding board and attached the board on the wall structure behind theclip. FIG. 7C shows a front perspective view of the clip with the cutouthook in open position. The hook is cut out from the clip leaving anopening 100 in the clip. Once the hook is pushed closed it goes throughthe opening and penetrates through the siding board and attaches it onthe wall structure. The form of the clip is shown as H-shaped clip, butother clip designs described in this application may also be used withthe cutout hook.

According to a preferred embodiment the clips described in thisapplication are used to mount building siding boards, such as but notlimited to fiber cement boards. However, the clips may be also used inmounting trim boards.

The clip is may be made of metal, stainless steel, galvanized metal,high density plastic or aluminum, but other materials may also be used.The clip may be coated or otherwise treated. The width of the clip maybe chose and required but the preferable width of the clip is between 2and 8″, more preferably between 3 and 6″ and most preferably the widthof the clip is 3″. According to one preferred embodiment the combinedlength of the hind prong and the vertical portion is same as the widthof the siding board. Preferably the combined length is between 7 and 8″.The length of the hind prong and the front prong is preferably about thesame as the overlap of two vertically abutting siding boards. Preferablythe length of the hind and front prongs is between 1 and 3″, morepreferably between 1 and 2″ and most preferably 1.25″.

According to one preferred embodiment the clip may have a horizontallyprotruding snap-away lip either on the lower end of the prong that isfacing the front side of the fiber cement board. This is shownschematically in FIG. 1B (element 70). If the front side of the board isfacing the front prong the lip is on the lower end of the front prong,if the front side of the board is facing the hind prong, the lip is onthe lower end of the hind prong. The lip may be made of metal, stainlesssteel, galvanized steel, high density plastic, plastic or aluminum. Thepurpose of the lip is to help aligning the siding board above the clip.The lip is preferably a clip-away lip that can be easily taken off afterthe siding board is attached to the building side. According to onepreferred embodiment the lip may have horizontal portion that has adepth substantially same as the thickness of the siding board, and avertically protruding secondary lip that helps holding the lower end ofthe siding board while it is attached to the building side.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clip for attaching a siding board on a buildingsurface, said clip comprising: a hind prong being substantiallyrectangular in shape and having a lower end, an upper end, and at lastone attachment hole; a front prong being substantially rectangular inshape and having a lower end, an upper end, and at least one attachmenthole; a horizontal portion having a front end and a back end, said frontend being connected to the upper end of the front prong in asubstantially rectangular angle, and said back end being connected tothe upper end of the hind prong in a substantially rectangular angle;said horizontal portion having a width substantially equal to thicknessof a siding board; said front prong, hind prong and horizontal portionforming a U-shaped fork where an upper end of the siding board snuglyfits; and a vertical portion being substantially rectangular and havinga lower end, an upper end, and at least one attachment hole, saidvertical portion continuing seamlessly upward from the upper end of thehind prong.
 2. The clip of claim 1, wherein length of the hind prong issubstantially same as an overlap of two siding boards installedvertically adjacent to each other.
 3. The clip of claim 1, whereinlength of the vertical portion is substantially same as width of a longface of a ridge of a shaped foam insulation board.
 4. The clip of claim1, wherein a snap-away lip is attached to the lower end of the frontprong or the lower end of the hind prong.
 5. The clip of claim 1,wherein the clip is made of one piece, and the hind prong has an innerlayer and an outer layer and the outer layer extends to the verticalportion.
 6. The clip of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of one piece,and the vertical portion has an inner layer and an outer layer and outerlayer extend to the hind prong.
 7. The clip of claim 1, wherein the cliphas a width substantially the same as the length of the siding board. 8.The clip of claim 1, wherein the clip is made of a first and a secondpiece, and the first piece consists of the front prong and thehorizontal portion and the second piece consists of the vertical portionand the hind prong, and the first piece is welded to the second piece ata point where the horizontal piece attaches the hind prong.
 9. The clipof claim 1, wherein the clip is made of a first and a second piece, andthe vertical part has two layers and the first piece consists of thefront prong, the horizontal portion and an inner layer of the verticalpart, and the second piece consists of s an outer layer of the verticalpart and the hind prong, and wherein the inner and outer layers of thevertical part are welded together from at least one point.
 10. A clipfor attaching a siding board on a building surface, said clipcomprising: a front prong being substantially rectangular in shape andhaving a lower end, an upper end, and at least one attachment hole; avertical portion being substantially rectangular in shape and having alower end, an upper end, and at least one attachment hole; a horizontalportion having a front end and a back end, said front end beingconnected to the upper end of the front prong, and said back end beingconnected to the lower end of the vertical portion; and said horizontalportion having a width substantially equal to thickness of the sidingboard.
 11. The clip of claim 10, wherein a snap-away lip is attached tothe lower end of the front prong.
 12. The clip of claim 10, wherein thehorizontal part is connected to the front prong and to the verticalportion with a substantially rectangular angle.
 13. The clip of claim10, wherein the horizontal part is connected to the front prong and tothe vertical portion with an angle substantially of 45 degrees.
 14. Aclip for attaching a fiber cement board on a building surface, said clipcomprising: a hind prong being substantially rectangular in shape andhaving a lower end, an upper end, and at last one attachment hole; afront prong being substantially rectangular in shape and having a lowerend, an upper end, and at least one attachment hole; a horizontalportion having a front end and a back end, said front end beingconnected to the upper end of the front prong in a substantiallyrectangular angle, and said back end being connected to the upper end ofthe hind prong in a substantially rectangular angle; said horizontalportion having a width substantially equal to thickness of a sidingboard; said front prong, hind prong and horizontal portion forming aU-shaped fork where an upper end of the siding board snugly fits; andwherein a snap-away lip is attached to the lower end of the front prongor to the lower end of the hind prong.
 15. A clip for attaching a sidingboard on a building surface, said clip comprising: a hind prong beingsubstantially rectangular in shape and having a lower end, an upper end,and at last one attachment hole; a front prong being substantiallyrectangular in shape and having a lower end, an upper end, and at leastone attachment hole; a horizontal portion having a front end and a backend, said front end being connected to the upper end of the front prongin a substantially rectangular angle, and said back end being connectedto the upper end of the hind prong in a substantially rectangular angle;said horizontal portion having a width substantially equal to thethickness of a siding board; said front prong, hind prong and horizontalportion forming a U-shaped fork where an upper end of the siding boardsnugly fits; a vertical portion being substantially rectangular andhaving a lower end, an upper end, and at least one attachment hole; saidvertical portion continuing seamlessly upward from the upper end of thehind prong; and said front prong further having a cut out hook carvedout of the front prong thereby leaving an opening in the front prong andsaid cut out hook being capable of being punched through the opening andpenetrating through the siding board to the wall thereby attaching theboard on the wall.